The Labor enquirer., 1887-01-29
Ananlasi.m Versus Chr,.,,..,.m


The earners outnumber the extortion-
ers, twelve to one. If the earners had
been loyal to each other, there would
not now be either a millionaire or q
destitute person in these states. and all
people. including those who now, unfor-
tunately, live by practicing usurv Of
various kinds, would be happier than
any person can be under existing con.
ditions.
Since Commercialism succeeded Feud-
alIsm, Christianity has been treated as
an impractical profession. "Do others
as they would do you," has been substi.
tuted for the Confucian and Christian
text; and We hav. all served Mammon
while protesting to serve God. I i'm
peach the parsons, of all denominations,
as helpers and leaders in the ignoble
mockefy of Christianity. They sane.
toned chattel slavery, as they now
sanction landlordism and other forms Of
usury. They have continued preaching,
for hire, but, while protesting to teach
Christianity, they have been and are.
teaching and practicing the sin Of Ana.
MAS, who was not struck dead for ordi-
nary lying, but for protesting to be q
Christian while trying to retain some
property for his own private use. The
sin of Ananias is now regularly COM
mitted, on larger scale, bv all profes
sional Christians. The parsons, while
protesting to be Christians. are all en-
dorsing the idea and action of Ananias,
and are treating the teachings and
practices of Christ as being not only OBJ
solete and impracticable, but pernicious
and criminal.
No "rich Young man" has now to
turn away, sorro gful," from the doors
of any church. He buys front seat, is
a leading aud lauded member of the Y.
M. C. A. young Mems Church Of Ana.
nias) and continues to draw interest on
his great possessions"
The practical and "common-sense'
ideas of AnanIas have go completely
displaced all real Christian practice that
an7 man who now publicly advocates Q
return to Christian principles aud prac-
tices is denounced, py the parsons Of all
sects. as a fool or a rascal.
| impeach the parsons as traitors.
Preaching the spell according to Ana
MAS, instead of the gospel of Christ,
they, above all others, are responsible
for the universal practice of extortion :
1.-The outgrowth of their sanction Of
usury. which, in modern times, has
been called interest" They. above all
others, are responsible for the poverty.
misery and crime that extortion has
caused. ! impsach them as time.servers,
mercenaries. and ti-Christians but
l impeach others also. l impeach the
great body of workers-includlng my.
self
We-the workers-have not been
loval to each other We have had the
power to extinguish usury. poverty and
over-work and the manifold crimes
they cause, but we have sold. ourselves
to the extortioners, have made weapons
for them, and used them against each
other. We have, by foolish rivalry,
helped to reduce wages aud 70 deprive
our comrades Of work and income. We
have. knowingly, made fraudulent goods.
When We have not actively helped the,
usurers, we have never failed to help
them by passive submission to their ex-
tortions. =
Comrades II We all practice the
golden rule" and other Christian prin-
ciples. the usurers and their pastors
will. Immediately, have to change their
occupations. and we shall soon end that
life is indeed worth living.
VIZ. HARR1oN RILEY.
70